PUSSIFICATION: American Rodeo Under Scrutiny For ‘ANIMAL ABUSE’

Oklahoma City, United States – It’s an American tradition that dates back hundreds of years to the time of cowboys herding hoards of cattle across the vast plains. But some today are raising concerns that rodeo competition with raging bulls and broncos inflicts cruelty upon the animals.

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The treatment of broncos and steers at rodeos has attracted sharp criticism by animal rights groups.

“Rodeos terrorise animals and provoke them into behaving fiercely and aggressively. They use cruel electric prods, bucking straps, and all of these cause wounds or dig in to the animals’ sensitive tissues,” Emma Vaughan, a spokeswoman for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) told Al Jazeera.

Vaughan said injuries to animals such as deep internal organ bleeding, hemorrhaging, fractures, ripped tendons, and torn ligaments and muscles “are common occurrences in rodeos”.

“I have seen cattle [from rodeos] so extensively bruised that the only areas where skin was attached was the head, necks, legs and belly,” said CG Haber, a veterinarian who worked as a meat inspector in a slaughterhouse, where rodeo animals often end up.